Mary Jane Watson-Parker Appreciation 2023

[Frontier]

That's the main reason I never fully embraced MCU Peter tbh. He's meant to be a working class hero. (And MJ a working class heroine, really.)

The Stark Industries resources...the lack of quips...Tony...Happy...being too much of a straightman...

Not that I blame Holland though, that's on the writers.

[Kevinroc]

I'd argue that Peter should be confirmed as Jewish. He comes from Forest Hills, which is historically speaking, a Jewish neighborhood. The story of his birth parents were clearly meant to be a stand-in for the Rosenbergs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius...thel_Rosenberg), who at the time were thought innocent by large portions of the Jewish community, and other little things here and there.

But here's a question for this thread.

Is MJ Jewish? Should she be? Her Aunt lived in Forest Hills as well.

[CaptainUniverse]

I'd argue that Peter should be confirmed as Jewish. He comes from Forest Hills, which is historically speaking, a Jewish neighborhood. The story of his birth parents were clearly meant to be a stand-in for the Rosenbergs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius...thel_Rosenberg), who at the time were thought innocent by large portions of the Jewish community, and other little things here and there.

But here's a question for this thread.

Is MJ Jewish? Should she be? Her Aunt lived in Forest Hills as well.

I don't think either she or Peter are Jewish, I think something like that would have been established long ago like it was with Ben Grimm. Their wedding would have reflected that in some form, but in every reality where we have seen either flashbacks to their wedding or seen photos of it or seen it take place (Pre-OMD Earth-616, Earth X, MC2, TAS, RYV) there is no sign of such a thing. We know that Peter believes in God and I am certain Mary Jane does as well but I don't think they ever defined what their actual religious affiliation was. I suppose perhaps the writers felt it wasn't all that important.

[Frontier]

I think Bendis definitely wrote Peter as Jewish but I doubt it'll ever get officially confirmed...or probably would have been at this point.

[Daibhidh]

Interesting points with regards to Peter. I think Aunt May explicitly goes to church but she could have married across faiths. Peter's mother is Mary which AIUI is not a common Jewish forename. I suspect Lee must have deliberately sent signals both ways.

Mary Jane is of Scottish descent on at least one side of her family. That doesn't mean she's not Jewish, but a quick consult of wikipedia's article on the History of Jews in Scotland makes it seem unlikely. She inherited a cottage in the Highlands in one graphic novel, which is not AIUI a part of the world with any significant Jewish communities. (Why the cottage didn't go to Gayle was not I think explained.)

[Kevinroc]

Marvel will never say Peter Parker is Jewish. Only Sony did that in Into the Spider-Verse (and that was with an AU Peter in the film).

They're also reluctant to say MJ is Jewish as well. Even though Ultimate MJ is actually from Forest Hills as well, they indicated she wasn't.

[KyleWayne]

That's the main reason I never fully embraced MCU Peter tbh. He's meant to be a working class hero. (And MJ a working class heroine, really.)

MJ is a supermodel and actress. She is well above “working class”.

[Kevinroc]

MJ is a supermodel and actress. She is well above “working class”.

She still has a "working class" background. How successful she actually is seems to vary wildly depending on who is writing.

[Frontier]

Reminds me of how Batman is technically Jewish because they established Martha Wayne's family were Jewish, but DC will never confirm that.

[PanicPixieDreamGirl]

MJ is a supermodel and actress. She is well above “working class”.

MJ grew up surviving off the kindness of relatives and taking fast-food type jobs to help her family survive. She's a working class gal.

Maybe this is a UK exclusive thing, but if you're born working class you're always working class, no matter how well you do in later life. And it's not an insult, it's a badge of pride!

[Kevinroc]

MJ grew up surviving off the kindness of relatives and taking fast-food type jobs to help her family survive. She's a working class gal.

Maybe this is a UK exclusive thing, but if you're born working class you're always working class, no matter how well you do in later life. And it's not an insult, it's a badge of pride!

That attitude does exist in the US to an extent.

[Matt Rat]

Spider-Man#4 spoiler

spoilers:

Spinnerett can't be turned to a wasp because she's human and only shares powers with Peter using technology. She's not alone either, any Spider that isn't human is immune from the wasp's stings

end of spoilers

[Mercwmouth12]

MJ-Spinneret makes an appearance in Spider-Man #4 today. spoilers:

She's one of the few that's immune from being turned as she's a human that's tapping into her Peter's powers and the others are monsters and video game characters

end of spoilers

[Jman27]

MJ grew up surviving off the kindness of relatives and taking fast-food type jobs to help her family survive. She's a working class gal.

Maybe this is a UK exclusive thing, but if you're born working class you're always working class, no matter how well you do in later life. And it's not an insult, it's a badge of pride!

yeah must be a UK thing

[Frontier]

Huh, I didn't think about that possibly being part of the plot.